abstracts: geology, phytopathology 193 



proves that a tilting uplift has taken place whereby the grades of the 

 rivers flowing west have been considerably increased. The increase 

 is so uniform as to show that the block tilted without deformation. 

 The tilting of a marginal continental block 80 miles wide and 300 miles 

 long, with inconspicuous deformation, must have required forces acting 

 thru depths of miles. 



In chapter 3 the fossils of the auriferous gravels are described, princi- 

 pally by Prof. F. H. Knowlton. Chapter 4 deals with the gold in the 

 Tertiary gravels, its distribution, size, and value, as well as with the 

 minerals accompanying the gold in the gravel. A brief account is given 

 of methods of mining and of legislation concerning mining debris. An 

 appendix gives a summary of the latest developments in the gold-dredg- 

 ing industry at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. W. L. 



GEOLOGY. — Alunite, a newly discovered deposit near Marysvale, Utah. 

 B. S. Butler and H. S. Gale. Bulletin U. S. Geological Survey 

 No. 511. Pp. 64, pis. 3. 1912. 



The alunite deposit described in this bulletin is located about 7 miles 

 southwest of Marysvale, Piute County, Utah, on a spur of the Tushar 

 range. 



The deposit occurs filling a fissure vein cutting volcanic rocks. It 

 outcrops in places for a distance of 3500 feet and has a maximum meas- 

 ured thickness of about 20 feet. Much of the vein material is nearly 

 pure alunite, while in other parts it contains some quartz and kaolin. 



The bulletin also contains a brief description of other known occur- 

 rences of alunite both domestic and foreign and a review of commercial 

 processes of treatment of this mineral. B. S. B. 



PHYTOPATHOLOGY.— The history and cause of the coconut bud-rot- 



John R. Johnston, Bureau of Plant Industry. Bulletin 228. 



February 5, 1912. 



A disease of coconuts called the bud-rot has long been known in Cuba, 



Jamaica, British Honduras, Trinidad, and British Guiana; it probably 



occurs in the Philippines, Ceylon, British India, German East Africa, 



and Portuguese East Africa The symptoms of this disease are the 



yellowing and falling of the leaves and the dropping of immature nuts. 



Eventually the middle folded leaves shrivel and bend over and the entire 



heart of the crown is involved in a vile-smelling soft rot. The tree may 



be killed within a few months after infection, and entire groves may be 



destroyed within two or three years. The cause of the disease in eastern 



